A strain of highly antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea first emerged in China in 2016, and cases of this tough-to-treat infection have tripled there in just five years, Chinese researchers report. It’s a warning to the rest of the world, they said. Strains resistant to the first-line treatment ceftriaxone (and many other antibiotics) “have spread internationally and collaborative… read on > read on >
All Health and Wellness:
Doctor Gets First U.S. Lung-Liver Transplant for Advanced Lung Cancer
Dr. Gary Gibbon didn’t have long to live. A harsh cocktail of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy for his advanced lung cancer had permanently destroyed his lungs and caused irreparable damage to his liver. But Gibbon, a 69-year-old resident of Santa Monica, Calif., remains alive thanks to a groundbreaking, combined lung-liver transplant, according to his doctors… read on > read on >
U.S. Mpox Cases Rising Again as Vaccinations Lag
Mpox cases are climbing again in the United States, with the number of reported infections now twice as high as they were at this time last year, new government data shows. In response, public health experts have raised alarms about the increase and stressed that vaccination rates against the disease need to improve. “This has… read on > read on >
Too Often, Nearby Defibrillators Go Unused on People in Cardiac Arrest
There’s been a big push over the past few years to get automated external defibrillators (AEDs) installed in public spaces, to help save lives threatened by cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, the devices are very seldom used. A new study finds that in nearly 1,800 cases where cardiac arrest occurred outside of a hospital, AEDs were only… read on > read on >
Stressed? Some Genes Could Raise Your Heart Attack Risk
Folks with genetically-driven stress are more likely to suffer heart attacks after nerve-wracking events or times of unrest, a new study shows. People with above-average genetic scores linked to neuroticism and stress were 34% more likely to experience a heart attack following stressful periods, researchers found. Further, these jittery individuals were more than three times… read on > read on >
Puerto Rico Declares Dengue Epidemic as Cases Climb
Puerto Rico has declared a dengue epidemic following a surge in cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. territory. In total, there have been 549 cases, including 341 hospitalizations and 29 severe cases, reported since the start of the year, the most recent data from the Puerto Rico Department shows. Cases are concentrated in… read on > read on >
These 3 Factors Make Your Brain More Vulnerable to Dementia
Out of a host of possible risk factors for dementia, three really stood out in a new analysis: Diabetes, air pollution and alcohol. British and American researchers used brain scans to focus on a neurological network they labeled a “weak spot” in the brain. This network is known to be vulnerable to the effects of… read on > read on >
High Rate of Suicidal Thoughts Among Black Men in Rural America: Study
Suicidal thoughts and contemplation of death haunt the minds of many rural Black men in the United States, a new study reports. One in three rural Black men said they had such dark thoughts within the past two weeks, University of Georgia researchers found. These thoughts are driven by childhood trauma, poverty and exposure to… read on > read on >
Just 30 Minutes Less Sitting Time Per Day Cuts Seniors’ High Blood Pressure
Seniors wound up with lower blood pressure after they were coached to get up and move more often, a new study says. Health coaching successfully reduced sitting time for a group of older adults by just over 30 minutes a day, according to a report published March 27 in the journal JAMA Network Open. Sitting… read on > read on >
Living in Poor Neighborhoods Nearly Doubles Risk of Heart Attacks, Stroke
Living in a poor and unhealthy neighborhood could nearly double a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study says. The findings indicate that all the factors that make for a crummy neighborhood — air and water pollution, toxic sites, few parks, tons of traffic — play a significant role in heart health.… read on > read on >